HR Lead & Wellbeing Officer

Latin Routes Limited is an independent tour operator with 3 brands (Latin Routes, Polar Routes & Travel Routes) that offer tailormade holidays to Latin America, the Polar regions and throughout the world. We sell directly to the public as well as to the trade, selling through travel agents throughout the UK.

We are now looking for a part-time HR lead and Staff Wellbeing Officer to join the team as we move into our 11th year in business. Having started from scratch with little finance or investment, in a tiny office above a pizza shop, we have grown to become a leading brand in the market of Latin American holidays and Expedition Cruises with approximately 35 staff.

As you can imagine there is a passionate, entrepreneurial spirit in everything we do. We are creative in our thinking and are always looking at ways we can do things differently to stand out amongst our competition. We undoubtedly remain as ambitious as the day we started and have big plans.

Our Brands

Latin Routes: Latin Routes is an award-winning and leading UK tour operator specialising in holidays to Latin America. We have a passionate team of knowledgeable Travel Specialists ready to help clients plan the trip of a lifetime - whether it's designing their own Truly Individual Holiday or joining one of our incredible Escorted Small Group Tours. Polar Routes:

Polar Routes is the polar expedition cruise specialist, and we partner with over 22 operators to bring clients a huge range of expedition cruises to the Arctic, Antarctica and beyond. We take great pride in our unrivalled knowledge of the ships, itineraries and these wonderful destinations. We’re on-course to become the UK’s biggest wholesaler of expedition cruises to the polar regions.

Travel Routes: Travel Routes is the newest member of the family and we have taken our Truly Individual holidays concept around the world. From incredible safari’s in Africa, tranquil beaches of Asia and the dramatic mountains of Canada, to the bright lights of the USA and more - we can now offer our clients a world of choice for designing their own holidays.

Our Vision & Mission

To be recognised as the best in what we do, by all those involved – our customers, our employees, and our partners. We understand that true success comes from nurturing the people and environments behind the business, as well as those in front of it. It's for this reason that we have clear company values that underpin everything that we do as a business, and how we act as an employer. Each of our five core values has its own team, made up of employees from across the company, and led by an appointed Value Ambassador. These teams are responsible for ensuring their value is consistently upheld and interwoven into everything we do: through actions, activities, policies and other efforts, which are regularly monitored, changed and adapted according to our ever-evolving needs. Our five core values are;

Commitment To Clients: We strive to meet and exceed our expectations with both our holidays and service.

Responsible & Sustainable: We never forget that the adventures of both staff and clients are made possible by a beautiful planet with a wealth of different cultures. We aim to operate holidays that respect and give back to the environments and communities we explore.

Collaboration & Support: We believe a company cannot grow unless those within it do. We work cooperatively to learn from one another, and we encourage and reward ambition.

Health & Wellbeing: Our greatest strength is our people, and we believe that a happy and healthy workplace brings success.
Innovation and Improvement: We bring our curiosity about the world to work and commit to new opportunities with enthusiasm. We continuously work to better our holidays and practices to grow as a business and as individuals. For more information on our values, please visit our website – www.latinroutes.co.uk/our-company-values/

The Role

As HR Lead and Wellbeing Officer, you will become a vital part of the team to help, guide, support and develop the team. Reporting to the Directors, this role will be responsible for ensuring that there are robust HR procedures and policies in place and support all HR, training and recruitment activities. You will play an important role in developing our value groups, and creating a positive people culture and strong customer service ethos within the business, in line with our brand values.

You will have a passion for people, planning and supporting implementation and it is important that you have experience in operating HR systems, policies and procedures and are up to date with all aspects of HR legislations.

Key Responsibilities

To maintain and further develop our company HR policies and procedures.
To maintain and develop our value groups with the teams
Support line managers with managing absence, disciplinaries, grievances and sickness, in line with employment law.
Support line managers in managing all recruitment, induction, performance management issues in line with employment law.
To ensure staff records are maintained in accordance with General Data Protection Regulations
To coach people managers on performance management issues and processes.
To measure employee satisfaction and identify areas that require improvement including establishing a staff survey and exit surveys when people leave.
To develop our performance management and development system which develops the potential of staff and maximises employees’ contribution to achieving our company aims and objectives.
To stay abreast of HR best practice and employment law, proving advice to any people managers in the organisation.
To ensure that we develop and implement policies and procedures that promote equality of opportunity to staff.
To manage, support and help develop staff reward/loyalty programmes and staff benefits

Training

To work with line managers to identify staff training needs and solutions, on an ongoing basis and to develop a Staff Training Plan for individual staff members and teams.
To deliver a company induction and customer service training programme that is inspiring and reflects our brand values working closely with our marketing team.
To develop and recruit for the Travel Specialist Trainee Programme Recruitment
To support line managers with managing recruitment activity.
To obtain staff references and other appropriate checks for new starters.
To issue new job contracts.
To plan and deliver cost effective recruitment campaigns.
To make recommendations on the reward package for all staff at different levels, monitoring industry salary levels and ensuring that our rewards are competitive.
To manage talent and succession planning within the organisation.

About You

You will be a CIPD qualified HR professional.
You will have a minimum of 3 years’ experience of HR, recruitment, and training.
You will have excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
You will offer sound advice to the team, based on your up-to-date knowledge of the latest employment law and HR best practice. ·
You will be trustworthy and discreet, sensitive to maintaining confidentiality.
You will be an inspiring trainer and communicator, able to live and breathe our customer service and brand values in a friendly and energetic way.
You will have the ability to work to tight deadlines and to work under pressure.
You will be able to work autonomously and as part of a team.
You will have strong IT skills (MS Office - Excel, Word, Outlook)

The Details

This is a part-time role with equates to 25.5 hours per week. Ideally, we are looking for someone who is flexible and able to work additional hours as and when required. Please note the salary will be pro ratad.

The role is offered on hybrid basis. We have 2 set days at our head office in Kingston Upon Thames, currently Tuesdays and Thursdays with an additional day working from home. This enables the team to be together for collaboration and support. For the other day you are welcome to choose whether you work from the office or at home.

In return you will receive a competitive basic salary and employees will also receive holiday and travel perks..

There is a bright and vibrant atmosphere in our office and the team regularly socialise both at company events and informally. We are looking for someone who would be looking to be involved with this side of company life. Our office is located within a 5-minute walk of the shops, bars and restaurants of Kingston Town Centre.

Apply

If you like the sound of the above and would like to apply for the role of Latin America Travel Specialist. Please send your CV with a nice introductory covering email to jessica.dennison@latinroutes.co.uk

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